PBS documentary - San Francisco: The Way It Was

The worst thing that could have happened to America is the death of its elegance. There was a self respect and respect towards others that no longer exists. That's probably the most nostalgic aspect for me when I watch these documentaries, it's hearing "we used to dress up to go to...", nowadays you go to a high end restaurant and there are people in shorts wearing backwards baseball hats.

It broke my heart. I remember it well. It was a small town that called itself a city. We were elegant, friendly, hard working. Now it is high tech, worth billions, but we have never been so poor... Times have changed..

Has anyone noticed how calm this documentary is? Every voice in it talks without any hurry... Yes, cell phones and social media had not took hold of everyones brains and crippled everyone's life.

This was "The City" of the swells, not the average Joe on the street. I grew up in San Francisco, too, and the only time we went to Market Street was at Christmas time to look at the wonderful displays in the department store windows. Nostalgia is one thing, history is another.

I'm born and raised in San Francisco and seeing it in its current state breaks me I was 4 when this documentary was made

This documentary was produced in 1995 by KQED, San Francisco's PBS (Public Broadcasting Station), where I worked for 32 years and retired. When the credits rolled I was surprised by how many names I recognized (and knew). This film was originally released on VHS and I don't believe it was ever reissued on DVD. (Note: This is not part of the PBS series of the 1970's called 'The Way It Was'.)

What a wonderful tribute to San Francisco. I don't know how the people of S F could allow that Fox Theater to be destroyed. It was one of the most beautiful buildings in the USA. Such a crime. Same with Nieman Marcus tearing down the City of Paris. Sickening.

I grew up in the 50's here--North Beach and Russian Hill. The best part was playing in the streets freely without worry of crime...and, getting dressed up to go shopping downtown, and Playland!

Santa Cruz beach and boardwalk Funhouse mimicked SF Playhouse, I grew up in the 60s and did all those rides, record player, barrel the slide, we slid down on gunny sacks, and the wave,, you would have to walk on rolling platforms……..great memories, fun times!

Forty-nine minutes for the birthplace of the 49ers. Born in 1938, I grew up having experiences at each of the venues covered in the wonderful film. From my mother donning her hat and white gloves going "downtown" shopping at the City of Paris to baseball at Seals' ballpark and three years undefeated at Fleishakers swimming for Washington, I know the pool intimately. Cold. After Winterland closed, I played ice hockey at Sutro's and dipped in the milk-white cool pool. The filmmaker couldn't cover everything, but the Peace Treaty was signed at the War Memorial, Winterland housed the Ice Follies and the SF Shamrock ice hockey team, the Japanese Tea Garden, the Golden Gate Park, and the Golden Gate Bridge are standouts along with the Presidio.

What a wonderful Documentary. Yes, this must have been the most beautiful place in the world and I envy the little kids fishing on the doc. I'm glad people remember SF for what it used to be.

As a native San Franciscan (and still live here) I say THANK YOU!

I had a close, older relative who just passed at age 97. He once told me about returning from the Pacific War in 1945 to Ft. Mason. When I lived there 01-06, I'd occasionally go down to Ft. Mason (long after the army had relinquished control to the city) and study the four large docks still there. Above the docks there was this walking path that had a plaque saying that 1.1 mil soldiers left and returned from those docks. Being into the history of WWII since youth, I couldn't help but be amazed at that. And all he remembered about SF was that when he came home, he went to a place that had a big ferris (or roller coaster) wheel and staying in a soldier's hotel where he found a dead man in the communal bathroom one morning.

Being a 70 year old native I really appreciated this documentary production. I remember fox, city of Paris. The park. And zoo. Many things.. dad actually was a streetcar operator., until he got a job with PG&E and was sent to help build the power plant in moss landing, Monterey bay. After moving I spent many summers at grandmas on Fredrick st. Haight Ashbury, the old family home. She and her mom rented rooms and flats.. they finally moved out in 72 to Monterey Bay..

How nostalgic! In 1958 i turned 21 and moved to San Francisco. Some of these things were still there and some were gone but still spoken of. I loved it and i loved this program.

Oh, man..... I'm a fifth generation San Franciscan...I was born at French Hospital in 1960.... This brought back so many memories for me..... Here I am watching this with a smile on my face, and a tear in my eye.... Thanks so very much for posting this...

Such a neat documentary. My great-great aunt owned a candy store on Geary Street in SF back in the 1920's and 1930's called Fogalsang's Pru-Nut Creams.

This is nice, my grandma use to take me to the Emporium slides on the roof in the 70's

Thank you so much for uploading! This is so nostalgic for a 71-year-old native who no longer lives in Northern California but misses San Francisco every day and most especially the city of my youth. Time flies by incredibly fast, changes are inevitable but of course Herb Caen expressed it perfectly when he notes that a great part of what we really miss is our own lost youth. But I sure can taste a Blum's wonderfully rich chocolate shake right now and still marvel at the City of Paris Christmas tree and my Mom shopping at I. Magnin. Thanks again for rekindling such wonderful memories.

Tony Bennett, one of the greatest New Yorker's that ever lived - loved San Francisco so much he "left his heart" there!